"You sound like Helgin."

"I mean it, Tia. I'll be all right. Go and get some of the rest you've denied yourself on my account.

It'll make you feel much better." And then he added with a smile, "And it will ease my conscience, too."

She was exhausted, she knew, and numb over the news about her father. Perhaps Misha was right.

He was awake now and it would feel good to rest without worrying about him.

"Are you sure? I can stay if you like."

"Go!" he commanded with a smile.

Tia rose to her feet. She leaned over to place a sisterly kiss on his forehead, but for some reason she couldn't explain, in the last instant she changed her mind and lowered her mouth over his.

Misha seemed a little shocked at first, then put his arm around her and pulled her closer. A world of promise suddenly opened to her as the kiss deepened into something far beyond simple friendship.

Tia pulled away from him, mortified. "I'm sorry..."

"Please," he said with a smile. "Don't apologize."

She turned to leave but he grabbed her hand and pulled her back.

"Tia, don't ever be sorry...""I have to go," she muttered, shaking free of his grasp.

He let her hand go and searched her face. "Will you be back?"

"I don't know," she said, and then she fled the room, trying to outrun the sudden confusion kissing Misha had evoked.

Chapter 43.

Word that the new Lord of the Suns was in residence in Bollow spread quickly throughout the city and precipitated a sudden rush of people who had urgent business with him. Dirk didn't have the time or the inclination to deal with any of them. He was on a tight schedule, its urgency dictated by his certainty that the longer he gave his enemies to plot his downfall, the greater the chance they had of succeeding.

Forty-one days now before the eclipse. In that time, he had to get everything in place, because the day of the eclipse was going to be the most momentous since Antonov sacrificed his youngest son to bring back the second sun.

When he arrived in the Lord of the Suns' private study, Claudio Varell presented him with the long list of people seeking an audience. Dirk glanced over it, and then looked up at Lord Varell with despair.

"They all want to see me?"

"Every one of them, my lord," Claudio confirmed. "And they all claim it's a matter of life or death."

"I've never even heard of half these people. Who is Master Galen?"

"He represents the Bollow Chamber of Commerce, my lord."

"What's his problem?"

"There is some concern among his members you might prefer to deal with foreign suppliers... given your nationality."

Dirk looked at him with a shake of his head. "So he's demanding a meeting to make sure the Church doesn't start ordering vegetables from Dhevyn?"

"I think that is his major concern, my lord."

"Then get rid of him. Who's Lord Parqette?"

"Ah, Lord Parqette owns most of the vineyards around Bollow."

"Tell him I don't drink. Who's next on the list?"

"That would be Lady Ortain. She is the widow of Lord Gavan Ortain, who owes the Church rather a large sum of money. No doubt she wishes to meet with you to discuss the debt."

"How did her late husband come to owe the Church money?"

"His estate borders the Lord of the- your estate, my lord. He purchased a tract of land from the Church to expand his crops, planted it, harvested it and then failed to make good with the payment. I believe he had a gambling problem."

"Tell her the debt is absolved," Dirk ordered. "We'll simply take the land back. Is there anybody on that list I have to see?"

"It would probably be impolitic to refuse the Lady Jacinta an audience."

"Who?""The Queen of Dhevyn's envoy, my lord."

Dirk inwardly groaned. "Jacinta D'Orlon?"

Claudio looked at him oddly. "Are you acquainted with the lady, my lord?"

"I'm acquainted with the gossip about her," he answered. "Is she here?"

"Waiting in the anteroom, my lord."

Dirk wasn't sure he was ready for this. Jacinta D'Orlon had convinced Alenor to go to Avacas when she discovered she was pregnant, a decision that almost cost the young queen her life. She was undoubtedly the one who covered for Alenor and allowed her to conduct her dangerous affair with Alexin Seranov in the first place. And she had seriously offended Lord Birkoff from Tolace by the manner in which she'd refused his offer of marriage. To Dirk's mind, she was an irresponsible troublemaker. Alenor might have even sent her here to get her out of Kalarada before she could do any real damage.

"I suppose you'd better send her in," he sighed. Best to get this over and done with, and then he could get rid of her.

Claudio bowed and left to follow Dirk's orders. A few moments later, a knock sounded on the door and he called permission to enter. But it was not Jacinta D'Orlon who walked in. It was Eryk and Caterina.

"What are you two doing here?"

"We've been shopping in the markets," Caterina explained.

"Caterina's really good at haggling, Lord Dirk."

"I'm sure she is," Dirk agreed with a scowl. "I don't recall giving you two permission to go wandering through the Bollow markets."

Caterina smiled brightly. "It's all right. I didn't try to escape or anything."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm your hostage," she replied, as if that explained everything.

He smiled. "One would think that would be the reason you tried to escape, Caterina."

"But where would I go?" she asked, looking genuinely puzzled.

"Home to Tolace, perhaps?" he suggested. "The Brotherhood would help you if you asked them, surely?"

"I suppose," she shrugged, "but what would be the point? Why would I want to go home to sharing a room with four sisters and making baskets all day, when I can live in a palace and be the hostage of the Lord of the Suns?"

Dirk hadn't really thought about it like that. "You're not homesick?"

"I'm having the time of my life." She frowned suddenly. "You're not thinking of sending me back, are you, Lord Dirk?"

Caterina had picked up the annoying habit of calling him Lord Dirk from Eryk.

"You can't!" she cried in alarm when Dirk didn't reply. Caterina grabbed his hand with both of hers, fell to her knees before him and stared up at Dirk imploringly. "Don't make me go home!"

"Your parents must be worried sick about you, Caterina. They don't know what's happened to you.""Yes, they do. I've written them several times. I told Mama where I was and how well you were treating me. And how nice you've been."

"You wrote to your mother and told her I was being nice?" Dirk asked with a shake of his head.

"When did this happen?"

"Ages ago," Caterina shrugged.

Dear G.o.ddess, what have I unleashed? She's writing to the Brotherhood and telling them I'm nice.

When Dirk didn't answer immediately, Caterina became quite panic-stricken. "You can't send me away, Lord Dirk. I mean... suppose the Brotherhood contract is still out on you? I have to stay. Your life depends on it!"

Somebody else knocked on the door. Dirk absently called permission to enter as he stared down her. "Caterina..."

"You must let me stay with you," she begged. "Please don't send me away."

"I can come back later if I'm interrupting something...personal," a rather amused voice announced.

Dirk's head jerked up. Jacinta D'Orlon was standing at the open door, studying the scene before her with a raised brow. For a moment, he was rendered speechless by the sight of her. He had heard the daughter of the Duke of Bryton described as "pretty," but confronted with her in person, the word seemed woefully inadequate.

When he realized he was staring, Dirk hurriedly shook himself free of Caterina, wondering what it must look like, with the girl on her knees before him, begging to stay.

"Lady Jacinta?"

"Lord Provin?"

"Er... this is Caterina Farlo," he said, as the girl climbed to her feet. "She's my hostage," he added, by way of explanation.

"Obviously," Jacinta remarked wryly. Then she turned to Eryk with a warm smile. "h.e.l.lo, Eryk."

Dirk looked at the boy in surprise. "You know the Lady Jacinta?"

"She was in our carriage on the way from Avacas, Lord Dirk. She said Princess Alenor told her all about you."

Dirk turned to Jacinta. "She did?"

Jacinta didn't answer him. "You must come and visit us in Kalarada someday, Eryk. If your lord will permit it, of course."

She closed the door and stepped farther into the room. Jacinta was taller than her cousin Alenor, with rich dark hair. She walked with the natural grace that only came with impeccably good breeding.

As she neared him, Dirk noticed her eyes but he couldn't decide what color they were. It seemed every time she moved they were a different hue.

No wonder Birkoff had been willing to spend half his fortune trying to win her hand...

Dirk forced his attention to the matter at hand and frowned at Jacinta. "Did you come all this way just to extend an invitation to visit Kalarada to my servant, my lady?"

"Not at all. I came all this way to find out what you're up to, my lord."

"Would you like us to leave, Lord Dirk?" Caterina asked.

"No," Dirk told her, for some reason not wanting to be alone with this unsettling young woman. "TheLady Jacinta won't be staying long."

Jacinta's eyes narrowed a fraction. "You and I need to talk, my lord. And soon."

"And we shall, my lady. After the swearing-in."

"Then if you survive the ceremony tomorrow, I will expect to be given a private hearing as soon as you can arrange it."

"If I survive?"

"You're not out of the woods yet, Dirk Provin, if you think this ceremony is merely a formality. You can be challenged right up until you take the oath."

"By whom?"

"By any one of the several thousand people who would rather see another Age of Shadows than allow a Dhevynian to be appointed Lord of the Suns," she suggested. "Particularly the b.a.s.t.a.r.d son of the Heretic King of Dhevyn."

Dirk found himself rapidly rea.s.sessing his opinion of Jacinta D'Orlon. She was neither the vapid girl he a.s.sumed, nor would she be so easily dismissed as he had hoped.

"Did Alenor send you with a message?"

"She said to wish you luck."

"Really?"

"No," Jacinta admitted. "I made that up. Mostly she wants to know why she should trust you in light of everything you've done lately."

"Because I asked her to," Dirk replied, in no mood to explain himself to a complete stranger.